Well, as a follow up to my own question, I believe the Danbury CT Apple store has i7's as well. I say that "I believe" this to be the case, because I went there this evening to buy one - and while the store wasn't that busy, it seemed like the sales help seemed interested only in fooling around with their friends rather than selling me a $2500+ computer (I wanted a few extras also). After standing around for what seemed like 15-20 minutes, I had to approach someone at the genius bar and ask for help. The girl there was hardly a genius, but she seemed to think that they had "all" the new iMacs in stock. She could not confirm this exactly, I needed to wait for a sales person. So I did. And waited and waited. After a very long time, I politely told the girl that I was tired of waiting and I was leaving since I could not get any help. She could care less, not sure if she even was paying attention, and said "Okay! Thanks for coming in!".

What a joke. I haven't seen a store that poorly run in a long time, and it seems like no one there could care less. Kind of soured me on spending the money on an iMac at all.

Well, as a follow up to my own question, I believe the Danbury CT Apple store has i7's as well. I say that "I believe" this to be the case, because I went there this evening to buy one - and while the store wasn't that busy, it seemed like the sales help seemed interested only in fooling around with their friends rather than selling me a $2500+ computer (I wanted a few extras also). After standing around for what seemed like 15-20 minutes, I had to approach someone at the genius bar and ask for help. The girl there was hardly a genius, but she seemed to think that they had "all" the new iMacs in stock. She could not confirm this exactly, I needed to wait for a sales person. So I did. And waited and waited. After a very long time, I politely told the girl that I was tired of waiting and I was leaving since I could not get any help. She could care less, not sure if she even was paying attention, and said "Okay! Thanks for coming in!".

What a joke. I haven't seen a store that poorly run in a long time, and it seems like no one there could care less. Kind of soured me on spending the money on an iMac at all.

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Sadly, I have experienced similar at my Apple stores. It is hit or miss. I think the issue is that going to the Apple store almost seems like just a fun 'experience' to people (younger kids) and there are a lot of lookers but not many buyers. This ties of sales people and most sales people are very laid back. I think not having an official 'check out' line is also an issue as it makes it very difficult sometimes to find a free person to check you out for the purchase.

Sadly, I have experienced similar at my Apple stores. It is hit or miss. I think the issue is that going to the Apple store almost seems like just a fun 'experience' to people (younger kids) and there are a lot of lookers but not many buyers. This ties of sales people and most sales people are very laid back. I think not having an official 'check out' line is also an issue as it makes it very difficult sometimes to find a free person to check you out for the purchase.

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You hit the nail on the head - a lot of lookers (mostly at the iPad) and not very many real buyers.

Apple's online stores went down early this morning ahead of rumors that the iMac will be refreshed with Thunderbolt and Sandy Bridge processors. New products are typically launched around 8:30am Eastern / 5:30am Pacific.

You hit the nail on the head - a lot of lookers (mostly at the iPad) and not very many real buyers.

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Had a similar experience at the Columbus (Easton) OH store. It was a Saturday morning in early April and there was a line out the door waiting to buy iPad 2's. These people were being let in and directed to a sales person. I, who was wanting to buy a MBP that cost 3x what an iPad did was left to stand by the table waiting. Watched people come in, make their iPad purchase and leave. Went to the lady directing them twice and asked what I needed to do to get waited on. She seemed like she wanted to be helpful, but was not able to.

Finally, a salesperson came up to me and asked what I needed and no sooner than he had, but the lady at the front brought someone buying an iPad to him and he flat out told her that he had seen me standing there for a long time and he was going to wait on me. She was a little stunned, but let him help me.

They just need a way to get into a queue based on what you need help with and call you in the order you come it. I could not imagine going into an Apple store to buy a mouse or keyboard or any small item as you could be there 45 minutes before you got helped.

Had a similar experience at the Columbus (Easton) OH store. It was a Saturday morning in early April and there was a line out the door waiting to buy iPad 2's. These people were being let in and directed to a sales person. I, who was wanting to buy a MBP that cost 3x what an iPad did was left to stand by the table waiting. Watched people come in, make their iPad purchase and leave. Went to the lady directing them twice and asked what I needed to do to get waited on. She seemed like she wanted to be helpful, but was not able to.

Finally, a salesperson came up to me and asked what I needed and no sooner than he had, but the lady at the front brought someone buying an iPad to him and he flat out told her that he had seen me standing there for a long time and he was going to wait on me. She was a little stunned, but let him help me.

They just need a way to get into a queue based on what you need help with and call you in the order you come it. I could not imagine going into an Apple store to buy a mouse or keyboard or any small item as you could be there 45 minutes before you got helped.

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That's crazy! Sad thing is, I have been in and out of this very same Apple store when it was busier and I was only buying a case for my iPhone. Now, no one there could be bothered to take my $2500!

I wanted to send an email to someone at Apple, but couldn't find an email address for this on their website. I would have loved to email the store manager directly, but again, no contact info. I wish I could run my business like this - instead, I have to make sure my staff provides actual service to the people that come in and spend money.

That's crazy! Sad thing is, I have been in and out of this very same Apple store when it was busier and I was only buying a case for my iPhone. Now, no one there could be bothered to take my $2500!

I wanted to send an email to someone at Apple, but couldn't find an email address for this on their website. I would have loved to email the store manager directly, but again, no contact info. I wish I could run my business like this - instead, I have to make sure my staff provides actual service to the people that come in and spend money.

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When I go to fifth Avenue NYC they hound me lol. Also when I was on vacation in January in Fort Myers the closest store 20 minutes in Estero also I was greeted right away. since you in NYC area try the 4 NYC stores. SoHo, 14th Street Fifth Avenue and Upper West Side.

When I go to fifth Avenue NYC they hound me lol. Also when I was on vacation in January in Fort Myers the closest store 20 minutes in Estero also I was greeted right away. since you in NYC area try the 4 NYC stores. SoHo, 14th Street Fifth Avenue and Upper West Side.

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Thanks for the tip - going to be in the city today and I will hopefully have time to stop by the Upper West Side store.

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